Hello dear hive blog readers!
Today we are doing a long overdue tour around all the gardens. Join me in this "around the grounds" blog post, where we'll explore the gardens, the chickens, the mess in the front yard, the revolting BBQ area that is getting refurbished and a few other things in the garden.
The Big Garden Mission:
I guess its not plant related, but this BBQ area is such an intergral part of out garden i have to include some progress on it. AND i am very proud of my efforts as it is ME restoring the grill NOT my husband. Our current mission is a monumental task – refurbishing a neglected, ancient BBQ gas grill. This relic from the previous owners has accumulated years of ash, leaving it in a revolting state. However, despite its neglect, it miraculously still works, albeit with frequent flare-ups. With determination, we are scrubbing, polishing, and restoring this grill, along with the large cabinets beneath it that have started to rust. It's a laborious yet rewarding project, and we're determined to bring this centerpiece back to life for safe and enjoyable outdoor cooking.
I'm hoping that we can make this area look inviting and a delightful area to have a glass of wine and gaze out on the garden. Just look at the mess it was in... and i HAVE made some progress. basically i am test cleaning a few areas just to make sure it will work.. lol. So far so good.
The Tropical Garden Section:
As winter takes its toll, the vibrant ginger and turmeric plants in the tropical garden section have almost succumbed to the cold. Their foliage has withered, indicating that it's time to clear out the remnants and harvest the ginger. I'm filled with anticipation for the forthcoming yield, imagining the delightful flavors of freshly harvested ginger, infusing my cooking and adding a zing to my morning coffee. It's a testament to the joys of growing your own spices, even in a challenging climate. Last year we go kilos of ginger out of this area and i am very much looking forward to the same this year. FINGERS CROSSED. i WILL do another blog post of the harvest showing you exactly what i got. its alwasy a winner.
You can see below how pretty this plant was in summer
The Onions and Unexpected Greens:
Within the onion patch, our efforts are paying off as the onion bulbs grow steadily. We will see how i go as i have never planted onions in large pots before... they are well draining so we will see.. However, a neighboring pot has been unexpectedly overrun by random seeds that likely found their way into the compost. Mustard and other salad greens have sprung up in abundance, creating a delightful mix of flavors and textures among the onions. It's an unexpected twist that reminds me of nature's resilience and its ability to surprise us at every turn. I AM going to have to weed them out though as i don't really want them competing for space. But i will wait till they are just big enough to go into a salad! lol
The Citrus Tree Haven:
The citrus trees stand tall and proud, ok, just a little bit in their pots, however their branches laden with an abundance of lemons, limes, and grapefruits. As the winter frost retreats, we anticipate a spring where we'll embark on the annual ritual of pruning and shaping these fruitful trees. Hopefully we don't have the same problems with bugs as last year. I will be on that EARLY this season. The aromatic scents and tangy flavors they provide are a true highlight of the garden, making every meal and drink a citrus-infused delight. lol lol lol... i just love citrus flavours, they realy are a winner.
The Back Gardens:
While the back gardens may have experienced some neglect this season, we managed to squeeze in a few plantings. Pea and snow pea seedlings, along with some cabbage, have found their place in the garden beds. However, in true nature's fashion, the persistent mustard and salad greens have taken it upon themselves to join the party, popping up alongside the intended crops. It's a reminder that nature has its own plans, sometimes surprising us with unexpected companions in the garden. I will be able to use some of these, but again some will have to be weeded out.
The Chicken Coop Area:
The chicken coop area is buzzing with activity as we make essential repairs to ensure the safety and comfort of our feathered friends. We're diligently fixing the coop and eagerly looking forward to building a new roof for the run, which has been sheltered by a temporary tarp for far too long. With the repairs in progress, our attention turns to spring, where we plan to introduce new additions to our flock, adding a touch of liveliness and providing a fresh supply of eggs. Unhappily our poor little Poppy (the favorite) is still looking very poorly. I'm not sure she will last much longer. She is still pecking about.. . but we will see...
The Front Garden:
Venturing to the often-overlooked front garden, we're met with flourishing rosemary bushes, their branches awaiting a jolly good trim come springtime. No idea what i will do with all the cutting slol. As we glance at the agave and succulents, we're greeted by towering flowering spikes reaching a staggering two meters high. These stunning blooms serve as a reminder of nature's resilience and the surprises it has in store. Meanwhile, the challenging task of pulling out unwanted plants and reshaping the garden into a beautiful space for edible delights and pretty flowers continues to unfold, promising future transformations. The jolly agaves grow like weeds and no matter now many i pull out they just keep going... lol...
The pots at the front are... well dead.. and need replacing.... whoops
We are also planning on giving the front a spruce up and getting rid of that HIDOUS brown paint on the garage and fences. But it is the garden below that i DO really want to be pretty and productive..
So here we are at the end of our "around the grounds" in the garden. As you can see... so many projects that really need to be attended to. As always in gardening right!!!
have fun
happy gardening!!
so we are very excited about that indeed.
As life takes us on its unpredictable journey, we sometimes find ourselves unable to devote as much time to our passions as we would like. I hope you enjoy the photos I've shared from this serene retreat in Southern New Zealand. I really do need to get back into our garden here again as soon, no doubt, it will be too hot agagin to garden and our pests here are relentless... lol
Below is the garden when we moved in - green - but nothing to eat
CONCLUDING MESSAGES
Just another very busy week all in all. I will now sign off and start the next video.. lol... as its already late as well
talk later
happy gardening
Sarah
Anyway thanks so much for stopping along and reading my posts I am just loving my HIVE experience so far. Such a fun platform for sure.
For those that don't know my i'm currently focusing on Daily painting and somewhat amusing my self and my family with Acrylic pouring.. lol.. i wish i had a separate studio for that as it is so messy.
My other HIVE interests are:
- cooking
sunset photography (i take photos of the sky every night)
Art
Graphic Design
Gardening (just a smidgion)
Ballet
Here are a couple of snaps of some of the stuff i do outside what you see up in the posts above.
Sarah, such AMAZING grounds, and your garden beds look fantastic... I wish you the best in your coming bug battle by the Citrus!
Thank you for stopping by,
yes citrus leaf miner, i will be ready and waiting for it this year... lol... hopefully i can catch it before it goes everywhere. Have to burn the leaves not compost.
I wish we had more "soil" and not everything in raised beds. but you just gotta go what you can right!
thanks for reading.
Sarah
Soil? I grow almost exclusively in containers! Mind you, a 150 tomato, 25 pepper, 25 squash, zucchini, cucumbers, etc. Onions, Garlic, Potato... probably in all, closer to 300 containers, across a few gardens
So many projects and so much potential 🙂 it will come together and nature will do its thing with or without us most of the time. I do miss my citrus trees from when I lived in California. Nothing like fresh lemonade or orange juice or a grapefruit for breakfast.
I use so much in curries and in roasts too... lemon just goes with so much.
Have been to California as a kid. they have some nice hot weather there too.. :-)
You have such a dreamy backyard and those citrus tree is just so pleasing to the eye. Do you have any dedicated time to clean and check the garden?
Hi love,
thanks for stopping by the blog. Sometimes i have dedicated time for the garden, but recently its been a bit thin as life has been crazy. but will be getting back in with force in spring. ( its middle winter here at the moment.)
thanks
Sarah
The onions and other stuff of plants look very beautiful. Thanks so much.
thank you for stopping by the blog